A/N: Hey everyone! I am so glad you guys liked the last chapter. I know the cliffhangers drive you nuts, but honestly, they're my fave. I do them all the time because they're so damn fun to me lol Sorry!

One of you asked if I was referencing Jackson Avery from Grey's and I totally had him in mind when I wrote about a plastics doctor from the western seaboard lol It's not him, but I thought it was a funny little nod.

Anyways, so based on the responses I've gotten, sounds like most people want a shorter, faster paced story. I'm not promising anything, because like I said, sometimes I just write and write, but I will definitely try to make this a faster-paced story. It was also mentioned that you'd like me to keep updating frequently because when I was writing NEC, I'd disappear for weeks at a time. I get that, and I will try to keep doing it as often as I do right now. But also please keep in mind I am a single mom with three kids, and I have a life. There may be times where I can't update every few days and that's just how it is. I won't apologize for that, so I won't make promises I can't keep to update super frequently. It's working out like that now, and hopefully it will continue. :)

That being said, thank you SOOOOOO much for the incredible reviews you guys have been leaving! They're so supportive and complimentary and it makes me want to keep writing. It's definitely part of the reason I've been posting so often. So please keep reviewing, and if you haven't already, please fave & follow this story.

Alright, let's find out what Jace looks like!

Happy Reading!

Jen

buttercup0303

Chapter 10

"Oh my God." Sam whispered staring at his face, her heart beating like a drum against her chest.

"Ah, there we are. Pretty damn good, if I do say so myself." Dr. Avery said proudly as he reached for the mirror Patrick was handing him.

"Dr. Avery, you did an exceptional job." Patrick praised the doctor in admiration as he stared at the man beneath the mask, so to speak.

Jace waited as Avery held the mirror up and his eyes widened at what he saw. He reached out slowly and grabbed the mirror, staring at his reflection.

Electric blue eyes stared out from under straight, dirty blonde hair as he studied the strong, square jawline, straight patrician nose, and chiseled features reflected back at him. There was still a lot of bruising, a couple of small scars along his temple and jawline, and maybe some slight swelling, but overall...

"You're handsome." Sam blurted out suddenly, staring at the attractive man in front of her. He smiled automatically, and white, straight teeth peeked out behind his full lips. He was more than handsome actually, and something about his face had her breath coming in short gasps.

She thought he was handsome, Jace thought with poorly hidden glee. He'd been hoping that the scarring wouldn't be terrible, but was shocked to find that not only was there almost no scarring, but he had a pretty decent face. Handsome, if he were to believe Sam, he thought again cheerfully.

Patrick coughed to cover the laugh that bubbled out as Sam went beet red with mortification. He took mercy on her and turned to Jace.

"Sammy's right, Jace. You're an attractive guy." Patrick grinned at him and Jace grinned back before looking at Dr. Avery.

"Doc, I don't know what I looked like before, but what you did here? It's a miracle and I know it. Thank you. Thank you so much." Jace said sincerely, grateful to the doctor for saving his life and rebuilding his face.

"You're welcome, son. Hopefully, it's close enough to your old appearance to circulate your face out there and maybe figure out your identity." Dr. Avery said with a warm smile before launching into care instructions. He left a card for Jace and made his exit.

Jace let out a heavy sigh of relief, his eyes closing. Sam smiled down at him, surprised at how relieved she was. Of course she hadn't cared what he would look like, but she was happy for him because he wouldn't have to deal with major scarring or deformities for the rest of his life.

"See, didn't I say it would be okay?" She teased.

Jace opened his eyes and turned his to look at her, a slow smile spreading across his face. The look in his eyes was so tender that Patrick felt like he was intruding. He backed out of the room quietly and closed the door. Neither noticed his departure.

"Yes, you did. Sam, I have to say something."

Sam looked at him questioningly.

"Okay. Go ahead."

"Thank you."

Sam tilted her head.

"For what?"

Jace reached out and grabbed her hand, holding tightly and Sam looked down at their hands in surprise, that spark of electricity- a shiver of familiarity- shooting through her like it did every time they touched. She raised her eyes to meet his and was shocked at the intensity burning in them.

"Sam, you saved my life. If you hadn't found me on the street that night, I would be dead. But you not only found me, you stayed by my side. Even when I was in a coma, you came to see me every day, talking to me, willing me back. And from the second I woke up, you've done the same. Supporting me, comforting me, treating me like a normal person, and not some amnesiac stranger with no name and no family. You didn't have to do that. You don't know me, and you don't owe me anything. And I don't need to have my memories to know that there are not a lot of people in this world who would have done what you have. You are beautiful, inside and out. And I am so grateful that it was you that found me on the street that night. So thank you." Jace took a deep breath when he finished his speech, watching her nervously. He wasn't sure he'd ever said so much at once before, but that was something he'd needed to say for a few days now. He just hoped he didn't make her uncomfortable.

Sam stared at Jace, her heart racing, tears dampening her eyes. She was incredibly moved by his words and found her self leaning forward and pressing a kiss against his cheek.

Jace looked at her with startled eyes, his skin tingling where her soft lips had touched.

"You're very welcome. I'm thankful too, Jace. That I found you, that I was here when you woke up, and that we've become friends. But I think you're wrong. There are a lot of people who would have done the same."

Jace shook his head and smiled.

"I think we're going to have to agree to disagree."

Sam started to speak but just then a nurse burst in noisily.

"Mr. Smith, I need to change your IV bag." She said matter-of-factly, holding up the replacement bag. She pointedly ignored Sam.

Sam looked up at Elizabeth, an unconscious look of irritation on her face.

Jace glared at the annoying nurse. She'd been in several times over the last few days, and although she was always polite, there was something about her that rubbed him the wrong way.

And now seeing the way she was ignoring Sam, and the look on Sam's face, he could tell they didn't like each other. It just solidified his already forming opinion of her.

"Fine, go ahead." He said curtly.

Liz glanced at him and froze, stunned to realize that his bandages were off and he was actually very handsome.

"Mr. Smith, your bandages are off and aren't you the handsome one? Congratulations." She said, her voice sugary sweet now.

Sam rolled her eyes and looked away. Jace just nodded.

"Mmhm."

Liz quickly and efficiently changed his IV bag, but lingered. She subtly moved between Jace and Sam, leaning over him and fluffing his pillows behind his head and straightening the blankets around him.

Sam leaned out of her way in disgust, rolling her eyes again as she watched Liz make her move. She told herself the tightness she felt watching Liz flirt with Jace was annoyance, and nothing more. Still, she bit her lip as she waited for Jace's reaction.

Jace stared at the nurse in annoyance as she moved in between him and Sam, forcing Sam to pull away. When the nurse leaned over him, her almost nonexistent breasts in his face, it became clear she was trying to either flirt with him or irritate Sam. The look on Sam's face told him it was working, which annoyed him even more.

"Look, I'm fine. Can you please go? We were in the middle of something." He said abruptly, trying to be polite but unable to keep the annoyance from his voice.

Liz pulled back in affront as Sam bit back a smile. Liz straightened her shoulders and pasted a fake smile on her face.

"Of course, Mr. Smith." Having ignored Sam the entire time, Liz sneered down at her before flipping her hair and striding out of the room.

Sam was standing a few feet away now, her arms crossed. Jace watched her.

"You two don't seem to like each other." He said bluntly.

"That's putting it mildly." Sam replied just as bluntly.

Jace paused.

"Yeah, I can see that. I don't like her either. She's annoying."

Sam burst into startled laughter, the stiffness leaving her body. She was still chuckling when she sat back down beside him.

"Anyway, how are you feeling? I mean, you got the bandages off. That's a big deal, right?"

Jace smiled at her change in subject. He appreciated that she didn't stoop to bad-mouthing the nurse.

"It is. I was nervous about it, I gotta admit. But I don't know if I look anything like I did before. So I don't know if it will help me figure out who I am."

Sam nodded sympathetically.

"I really believe that your memories will come back. Give yourself more time." She said encouragingly.

Jace nodded.

"The cast on my arm and leg comes off tomorrow. And then I start physical therapy Friday." He added, thinking about the next challenges ahead of him.

Sam's eyes widened and she reached out to squeeze his hand.

"Wow, Jace! That's a big deal. How do you feel about it?"

Jace shook his head, shrugging.

"I mean, I'll be glad to get out of this damn bed. But I don't know the extent of the damage until I try to walk and everything. We'll see." He was hedging. The truth was that he was nervous as hell.

Sam saw through his words to the nerves beneath. Considering her words, she quietly poured him a cup of water from the nearby pitcher, handing it to him. He smiled his thanks; surprised she'd guessed that he was thirsty.

"You know, I was in a hit and run about eight or nine years ago. I suffered a lot of damage to my hip."

Jace felt his eyes widen in surprise as he stared at Sam. It had been the last thing he'd expected her to say.

"And I had to go to physical therapy for a while and use a cane to walk. I remember it being one of the hardest things I've ever done. It was painful and frustrating and awful. But I came out stronger than ever. And I know you will too."

Jace watched her in awe. She had said it all so nonchalantly, but he knew what it felt like to be hit by a car and left for dead on the side of the street like trash. It made you feel insignificant and filled you with rage.

But there was strength in her that he'd glimpsed when she'd spoken about losing her husband and surviving it. It was just another thing about Sam that kept him interested.

"Thank you. I'm glad you were okay. Did they ever find the person who hit you?" His voice was hard. He felt rage bubbling up inside him at the thought of the person who had hurt Sam and then left her to die.

Sam smiled wryly, knowing that would be a hard one to explain.

"Yeah. It was my future mother-in-law."

Jace almost choked on the water he was swallowing.

"What?"

"Long story short, her daughter had just been murdered and she was devastated. She was in a really bad place; she'd been drinking and didn't even realize she'd hit me. When she found out, she was horrified. I wasn't with Jason then, but I knew she was struggling. The loss of a child can break you." Her voice had gone hauntingly sad, and Jason looked at her curiously. But Sam just continued. "I didn't want charges brought up against her, so instead of going to jail, she went to a rehab to get help. And we're extremely close now." She smiled with a shrug, knowing it was a crazy story.

Jace watched her in admiration, finding he wasn't at all surprised that Sam could find compassion for the woman who'd nearly killed her.

"Well, I doubt the person who hit me has the same excuse that your mother-in-law did. And I doubt they'll ever find out who it was." He added in frustration.

Sam's brow furrowed.

"Why do you say that?"

"I mean, I was ran over three weeks ago and they don't have a single clue. That detective that was here said he had hoped that when I woke up I could give them info about who hit me. But I don't remember the accident, so I can't help. It's a dead end."

Sam frowned.

"That's garbage. They have to keep looking. And if they can't find who hit you, then I will."

Jace grinned at her fierce statement, grateful for her defense but unsure how she could solve a crime that even the cops couldn't. He asked her exactly that.

"No offense, but how can you solve this crime when the cops can't?"

Sam glared in mock affront.

"Offense!" She cried with a laugh.

"I'm a private investigator, thank you very much. It's my job to solve the cases others can't. And I'm very good at my job." She said pertly, pulling a business card from her pocket.

Jace stared in surprise. That had been the last thing he'd been expecting.

"You're…you're tiny." He said stupidly, unable to reconcile the idea of the tiny, kind beauty by his side with his image of a grizzled, cigar smoke scented P.I.

Sam burst out laughing.

"Yes, yes I am. And I'm smart, intuitive, great with research, and I think quick on my feet. I'm also an expert safecracker, I'm good with a gun, and I'm excellent back up." She tossed her hair back with her last statement, the smile lingering on her face.

Jace froze at her words, a sense of déjà vu hitting him hard. But once again he couldn't hold onto the flash of memory.

"You sound like a real badass." He joked, recovering.

"Damn right." Sam shot back.

Jace chuckled and shook his head.

"Sam, thanks for the offer. But when I woke up without my memory, I also woke up without my wallet. I couldn't afford to pay for your services." He admitted uncomfortably.

Sam rolled her eyes.

"Well, that works out since I was never planning to charge you. You're my friend, Jace. And I'm going to find who hit you and left you on the road no matter what. So don't waste your time fighting me on this." Sam said determinedly.

Jace heard the stubbornness in her voice and somehow knew instinctually better than to argue with her.

"Thank you, Sam."